Method of handling bricks.



R. C. PENFIELD.

METHOD OF HANDLING BRICKS. APPLICATION FILED 1\IAR.5,1910.

1 5 1 9 1 Patented 72111.21, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N H H Q .g

R. O. PBNPIELD.

METHOD OF HANDLING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAILS, 1'110v LQfiLOOl Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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R. G. PENPIELD.

METHOD OF HANDLING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.5, 1910.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

6/2 far R. C. PENPIELD.

METHOD OF HANDLING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED Mum, 1910v L5LL Patented Jan. 21, 191:1.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

'20 masses of material UNI h; t 'r mean c. rehrmtn, or New roan, my.

METHOD or Harmonie BRICKS.

- Specification or letters Patent.

PatentedJan.21,1913.

ori 'tan afltilic'atio'h men (le'tbber 9, meters; in. 456,662. ittvidedand this application filed March 5,

. 1910. Serial 1%. 547,420.

To all whom it out cantata.-

Be it kil'OWh tat I, R mtmnc. PEN- rinto, a citizen of the United.States of America, residing at New York city, in the 3 county of NewYork'and State of New York,

have invented ceittti new and useful mproveinetits in Metho" e atHandling Bricks, of which the following is a specification, re erencebeing had therein to the accompanylh iu% drawihg.

his intentlbh relates to a method of handling bricks.

A primary object is to avoid the repeated rehandling of burned orfinished b'rlck by 15 providing mechanism which can lay hold of andtransport the brick in stack formation from. omt to poin As to t emethod therein involved, the invention consists in stacking or pilin upin bulk, consisting detached of independent blocks such as bricks, orother quantities of material in regular ali'uot parts, with the lowercourse, tier, or a er or perhaps several of the lower 23 layers shorterthan the superimposed mass;

and t en in manipulating the mass by applyinga littin power horizontallyat the ends of said sho t 1" basic layer, or, secondly, by 'ap'plyin alifting strain to the bulk at $6 a point below the center of gtavity butabove the basic layer, and simultaneously applying a lateral clampingorse'cond litting strain below the plane of application the first liftinstt'ain, and horizontally at as the was of t shorter basic layer. Thebricks or members of the shorter basic layer are Set close togetherwithout any spaces or openin of any kind between them so that whencamped tightl at the endsthev will to be handled together as aconsolidated unit. Heretotore it been customary in manipulating massesof material consisting of detached lobks such as bricks to prepare thesame for the engagement therewith of a 4 lifting mechanism b spacingapart the individual members a the bottom layer, this being donein orderthat the lifting devices mignt projectv their arms into the spaces 7between the bricks of the basic layer and be able to releasethet'ns'elv'es whenever the pile of brick was et dhwn. In the caseof apicking up of brick in stack formation to be carried into thekilti forburning, it, was necessary to sp ce a" art the members of th'e basiclatyer the same as the other superim os'ed layers were spaced apart inorder that the formation should be loose and open at the base aselsewhere and appropriate to under 0 the burning operation. In thehandling of burned brick, however, it is not necessary that the basiclayer should be thus spaced apart, but a solid or unspaced layer can beused just as well; but, of course. 1n order to apply the liftingmechanism to said basic layer and readily disengage it therefrom whenthe pile is set down, it is essential that the basic layer be shorterthan the superimposed mass, or, in other words, that the latter shouldproject over the basic layer at each end to provide room to permit themanipulation of the lifting arms or the grappling devices, withouthaving any projectlng parts which prevent close piling of the stackagainst other stacks when it is set down.

All the beneficial results obtainable by spacingtapart the members ofthebottom course of brick when a pile is prepared for burning can beaccomplished with burned brick with equal effectiveness by simplyshortening the basic member, and settingl it solid, leaving at the endsonly enottg space to allow thelifting arms to come out flush with theoutside edge of the pile. In this way the mass is lifted by acompression strain on the lower course, or, if desired. upon a pluralityof lower courses, and-this method of procedure alows the mass of brickto be set up in the close or shipping formation where there are nointerstices between the bricks, but they are placed in close contactwith each other. But in thus claiming the advantage of the shortenedlayer without openings between its individual members for a-stack builtin close or shipping formation, I do not wish to be deprived ofutilizing the same method-in conjunction with a pile of brick whoseconstituent members are placed loosely in burning formation, and wish toset forth my invention broadly enough to cover its use with either theclose or open stack formation. Of course, the short lower layer orlayers that are to be clam ed by the compression strain at the ends wi 1always have the members thereof set close, and necessarily so, whetherthe formation above be loose or close. The lifting strain may be appliedby means of clamps which grip the ends of the shorter layer withoutdirectly exerting any handling machine.

1 ends by means of a horizontal bolt '2.

" other device.

lifting strain upon the su rincumbent mass, but merely clam the bsicksof the said lowermost tier wit suflicient force to support the weight ofthe entire stack, the weight ofthe superincumbent mass being thus liftedby the initial compression strain on the lower tier 3, or the clampingmechanism may have lifting fingers underneath the projecting edges 0 thesuperincumbent massyat the .ends of the short basic layer, which fingerslift the mass as well as clamp the bricks of the lower tier for liftingthe latter. I

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one form .of, mechanism forcarrying out my improved method, Figurel is a front perspective view ofa stack formation of brick having a shorter basic layer, and showing ahandling device operatively applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rearperspective view of the same, showing particularly thex'short basiclayer. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of said brick Fig. 4 is a sectionaltop plan view of the same. Fig. .5 is a detail rear elevation of thelower portion of the mechanism. Fig. (lfisv a vertical sectional sideelevation. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the cam mechanism forexerting the primary clamping strain. Fig. 8 is a de- 30' tail rear viewof one of the clamping plates. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail end view ofthe same with the actuating leveragetherefor.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe difierent figures of-the drawing. The main frame of the apparatus isvertically disposed in order that. it may lie alongside of the mass ofbrick in proper position to permit'the clamping mechanism at the base tobe projected at the ends of the shorter basic layer ing the latter andof the frame may be suitably so that the upperportion project over themass and engaged by 'a' lifting crane or This main vertically disposedframe consists, in the resent example of the invention, essential y oftwo inclined bars 1. 1 fastened together at their upgzr tween theinclined bars 1, 1 are two vertical bars 3, 3 whose upper ends. areconnected similarly by means of the bolt 2, and whose lower ends aresecured,by means of bolts 4 to a block 5, which block is integral withor firmly connected to bar the lower ends of the inclined bars 1 arelikewise bolted by means of bolts 7, there being two triangular baseframes. 8 which are suitably connected to the inclinedbars 1 and thebase bar 6, .asfully shown in Fig. 2

9 denotes a short lever at the top of the frame which it supported onthe bolt 2.. At the long end of this lever is an eye 10 pivoted theretoby means of a bolt 11. and at the other or short end of said lever 9 across head 12 for the purpose of clampa base bar 6, to which someSIISPGDSIOII HIGH-11S,

lever 9, thereby turning lever 9 on its pivot 2, the cross head 12 andthe thrust bars 15 will be forced downwardly, the result of which willbe to actupon leverage devices at the lower end of the machine, 'as Ishall presently more fully relate. l

Referring to Fig. 2,'and likewise to Figsr, 3 and 5, the clamping plates16, which are des' ed to act against the end bricks of the owershorter'tier of bricks, are clearly seen. These clamping plates havevertical faces, and are provided with suitable rear projections or earsa, arranged 'in pairs. so that arms 17 may be pivoted between themembers of the pairs. jections are pivoted crank arms-17 rigidly carriedby the rock shafts 18,, which latter are supported in suitable bearingsin the lower part of the frame.

The thrust bars 15 are pivoted to levers 19' whose opposite ends are rithe rock shafts 18, (see'- ig. 4), so that when said thrust bars 15aredepressed the Hence, to these roidly secured to levers v19 aredepressed likewise, and therock' shafts 18 rotated more or less, theeffect of which is to actuate the crank arms 17 and force the clampingplates 16 toward each other, or. .in other words, press them tightlyagainst the ends of the lower tier of bricks. The rock'shafts 18 are,vided-with upwardly extending arms 20 rigidly aflixed thereto, to whichare con furthermore, pronected long links 21 in the length of each ofwhich I find it convenient to inter osc turn buckles 22 to be used inadjusting-t eir The inner adjacent ends of the rods length. 21areprovided with overlapping rectangular yoke frames 23 having elliptical:sockets 24 in which a cam 25 is six portedwhich is susceptible ofrotation by t e application of a wrench to the square head 26 of a bolt27 or other device that passes through the center .of the cam 25. As thecam 25 is turned in one direction or the other, the yokes 23 act to drawthe links 21 relatively to each. other, pulling them towardeach other,and

thus to correspondingly move the crank greater or less extent. Theobiect of using this cam device is thus to enable the clamping-plates tobe set by hand close against the bricks at the ends of "the lower tlerbefore the second lifting strain is applied by the action of bars 15 andlevers 19. There is thus a primary clamping and a secondary clamping.The first is by hand and the second is automatic through the lifting of1 20 arms 20 and turn the rock shafts 18 to a iacent faces of themachine The first ivee a tight and effective grip which is he d by thesecond, and the latter augments while the mass is being lifted.

In Fi 7, I have shown in enlarged detail one of t is clamping plates 16and the mechanism for actuating it. The crank arms 17 carried by therock shafts 18 are loosely con nected to the ears 0, by havi slots 1) insaid crank arms 17 near the en s thereof, into which slots project rigidpins 0 on the cars a. The ends of. these arms 17 are in contact withflat springs 28 that lie between the members of each pair of cars a (seeFig. 7). The interposition of this spring between the end of each" crankarm 17 and the rear face of the clamping plate 16 enables the crank 17to press with a yielding action against the clamping plate during thetime that the crank 17 is traveling through the length of its slot 1) oruntil the pin 0 finds a solid seat in the end of the slot 6 nearest tothe rock shaft 18. In other words, supposing the parts to be in theposition shown in Fig. 9, and the crank arm 17 to be forcing theclamping plate 16 in the direction shown by the arrow, it will beevident that if the spring 28 is sufiiciently strong theclamping plate16 will be moved against the brick by the action of the arm 17 thereonbefore a compression of the spring 28 takes place,

and after the plate 16 is so seated against the brick. the arm 17 willcontinue its movement in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 7, andthis arm will travel through the length of the slot b and willyieldingly press the clamping plate against the brick, thereby enablinginequalities and irregularities in the brick to be compensated for. Thefaces of the clamping lates 16 that come into contact with the ricks arerovided with rubber. leather or other elastic pieces that cover theentire faces or only parts of them. as at d d. Fig. 5. to assist inmaking a tight grip and to overcome defects in the surface of the brick,compensating for in equalities .etc. In order that the clamps 16 may notbe deflected from a "ertical' position. I interpose behind them links 29that form with the crank arms 17 a sort of parallel motion.

In the operation of the machine, for car rying out my invention. it willbe understood that after ithas been placed alongside of the pile ofbrick with the two clampiirigl plates 16 in proper position at the endsof t e basic tier. the wrench or key for manipulating the cam 27) willbe applied to the stem thereof and the yokes drawn together. the resultof which will be to bring the clamping plates 16 into strong bitingcontact with the ad 7 the ends of the tier. done by hand before thelifting power is applied to the machine. When the lifti movementbeginsthe raising of the long en the way I This is of the lever 9 at the topof the machine will correspondingly depress the thrust bars 15 which arepivoted to the ends of the long crank arms 19 at the base of themachine,

and hence it results that the movement of these long arms 19 will rockthe shafts 18 and actuate the crank arms 17 in the manner I have alreadyexplained. Thus a very tight andsteadv gri is applied with enormousforce at the on s of the lower tier, causing all the bricks of said tierto hold rigidly together as if in a single unit, and the lifting strainthus applied to the lower tier is amply. sullicient to liftthesuperincumbent mass. The initial lifting movement applied to the topof the apparatus automatically clamps the lower tier so that the liftingstrain whereby the superposed mass is raised is exerted through theclamping strain on the basic layer. This is the case when the clamps 16do not function as liftingarms, but wholly as clampin devices. There maybe cases where it woul be advisable to allow the clamps 16 to performthe unction of lifting arms as well as clamping members, in which casethey 'will rest underneath the overhanging ends of the superposed m'ass.fitting neatly into the recesses beneath said overhanging ends alongsideof the ends of the basic layer but I do not wish to be restricted toemploying is applied vertically contact therewith oflifting arms, butwis to claim broadly the method of lifting a massby a grip applied tothe ends of a basic layer composed of members without intersticesbetween them. When a mass of brick is thus lifted it can beset down withits sides in close contact with the sides of other unit stacks, withoutimprisoning the clamp ing plates, which can be readily withdrawn. Hencethere i svno lost space.

The description of the method which I have herein'set' forth is notintended to be such as to confine me-rigidly to everything havedescribed it, but 'I reserve the libert of varying the method innonessential etails provided only the same desired efiect may beattained. clearly evident that in the o eration of the method, or of anyparticu which carries it into efiect, both of the clamping members neednot be movable, but one can be stationary and the other movable; and Iwish it distinctly understood that my invention is broad enough to covera clamp having a single movable member.

The method herein and described but not claimed in my copendingapplication for Letters Patentfor apparatus for handling bricks in bulk,filed October 8, 1908, Serial No. $56,692, of which application thepresent one is a division. In this application the methw is claimedwhile in the other application the claims are a lifting strain which.beneath the mass by ar mechanism n will be i described is disclosedconfined to the details of the mechanical apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A method of handling brick and similar detached pieces of material,which consists in stacking the same with a basic layer shorter than themass 'above it, and with the units of the basic layer in direct contactwith one another, applying a clamping force at the opposite ends of saidbasic layer,-said clamping force being applied in two parts, first bymanually-operated means and sec- 0nd by automatic means, the-saidsecondary clamping force being simultaneous with the lifting of thewhole mass and being derived from the lifting power.

2. The method of handling brick and similar detached pieces of material,which consists in piling the same with a bottomtier shorter than thesuperincumbent mass and with its units in direct contact with one an- 3.The method of handling brick and similar detached pieces of material,which consists in piling the same with a bottom tier shorter than therest of the mass and with its units in direct contact with one another,applying an initial clamping force at r.-

the opposite ends of said baslc layer, and then applying a secondaryforce. to said layer, said second force bein derived automatically fromthe power li ting the whole mass.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RAYMOND C. PENFIELD. Witnesses CiIAs. E. DUNCAN, C. P. MERTENS.

